Christy Freeman

OCEAN CITY -- Many friends and neighbors of an Ocean City woman charged with the murder of her pre-term infant are still reeling as police continue their investigation.

Most members of the community know Christy Freeman, 37, as a mother of four children and the owner of Classic Taxi, a cab company specializing in its use of vehicles from the 1950s and 1960s.

Taxis vandalized

Between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning, vandals smashed the windows of four of cab company's vehicles at their office on Sunset Avenue in West Ocean City.

West Ocean City falls outside the Ocean City Police jurisdiction and the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation is looking into the incident.

Kenny Ethridge, an Ocean City resident for more than two decades, said he was "shocked" to learn about the first- and second-degree murder and manslaughter charges against Freeman. He said he used Classic Taxi almost exclusively when he needed a ride.

"Most locals used them. They were pretty consistent with prices," he said. "When you called them, you pretty much knew what you were going to get."

Freeman and her longtime boyfriend and co-owner of the company, Ray Godman Jr., were active in the cab association. Drivers said the couple played a part in getting taxi fares regulated by the town.

"She worked just as hard as other employees and never complained about anything," Ethridge said.

When his car was getting repairs, Ethridge would call Classic Taxi for a ride to work. He would also have the cab company pick up his wife and baby. He said Freeman would often play with the infant.

"I always thought she was a nice person, overall an up-and-up person," he said.

Ethridge recently started driving a taxi himself for the A Beach Taxi and Nightclub Taxi. He said he tries to model some of his practices after them.

"I try to be up in the morning for anyone who needs a ride to work," he said. "I readjust my shift so I can be there for them like they did for me."

Other taxi drivers didn't know the couple outside of the cab association, but were surprised to hear about the charges facing Freeman.

"I'm blown away. I never would have suspected anything like this," said Steve Morris, a driver for Dave's Taxi.

Morris knew Freeman and Godman through the cab association. He said he used to radio Freeman when they would pass their cabs.

"She was not really outgoing, but not really shy," he said.

Morris said he did not know that Freeman had children.

Ocean Pines resident Stephanie Seager rented an apartment from Freeman and Godman when she first moved to Ocean City 10 years ago. The couple also owns the Buoy Motel.

"They're just such low-key people," Seager said. "I see her all over town driving her taxi."

Seager said she did not know Freeman was pregnant. She said Freeman was a little overweight so a pregnancy might not be noticeable. The charging documents listed Freeman as 5-feet, 8-inches and 180 pounds.

Freeman came to the attention of authorities after being treated at two local hospitals. During her examination, medical professionals found a placenta and part of an umbilical cord, but no fetus. Further tests revealed that Freeman was pregnant, but she denied it, according to the charging documents.

Also discovered during the examination were several bruises along Freeman's inner thighs, stomach, left leg and right forearm, according to the documents.

"We don't know why there are bruises," Police Spokesman Barry Neeb said. "She's telling us it's all accidental. That may or may not be true, but we can't substantiate it."

After interviewing Freeman, police obtained a search warrant for her home on the 200 block of Sunset Drive, where she lives with Godman and their four children. During their search, police discovered two sets of fetal remains in a trunk in the woman's bedroom as well as the most recent fetus, dead and wrapped in a blanket under the sink.

A preliminary medical examiner's report released Monday said the fetus was 26 weeks old and stillborn. They are still investigating the cause of death.

A separate search warrant for the mobile home in the driveway lead to the discovery of a fourth set of fetal remains.

Neeb said they are waiting for the medical examiner's report to determine the age of each of the fetuses and when they died. He also said police believe all four pre-term fetuses belong to Freeman.

Neeb said no further charges have been brought against Freeman in relation to the three other fetuses. He said the evidence will most likely be presented to a grand jury at the conclusion of the investigation to determine any further charges.

Police continue investigation

Although police were expected to complete their search of Freeman's home and the surrounding property Wednesday, the investigation could take weeks or even months depending on the medical examiner's report, Neeb said.

Freeman has only been charged in connection with the death of the 26-week-old fetus, under Maryland's fetal homicide law, Worcester County State's Attorney Joel Todd said.

The law was passed by the Maryland General Assembly in 2005 and allows for prosecution if a person's action or inaction resulted in the death of a viable fetus. With the fetus being stillborn, the state will have to prove Freeman caused the fetus to be delivered stillborn, Todd said.

"What it does, it makes us prove she did something to cause it to be stillborn. The medical examiner will look for signs of trauma, that it didn't happen naturally," Neeb said.

Neeb said Freeman's four children are currently with their father, Godman.

The Worcester County Department of Social Services could not speak to the specifics of the Freeman case or even confirm that they received a call from the hospital, Director Peter Buesgens said.

Buesgens said he could speak in general terms about what is involved in an investigation by Social Services and what would happen if they were contacted by medical personnel.

Within 24 hours of a report, Buesgens said Social Services along with law enforcement would visit the home and interview the parents. Any subsequent joint-investigation would stem from there.

Buesgens said while police and Social Services are in constant communication they are each looking at different issues.

Police investigate whether a crime has occurred, while Social Services evaluates the validity of the initial claim, Buesgens said.

"The core issue we're looking at is are the reported victims and any other children in the home safe?" he said.